Kerala MPs should work as a team in Delhi: Chief Minister V D Satheesan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has urged all MPs from Kerala to work together as the state's "true ambassadors" in New Delhi. He was speaking at a meeting of Kerala MPs held at the Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram ahead of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. The meeting was convened to discuss the state's key demands and major development projects.

This is the first official meeting of Kerala MPs since the new state government assumed office. The meeting was part of the government's usual practice of presenting the state's priority issues before the start of a Parliament session. During the meeting, the Chief Minister asked the MPs to work together and individually with Union Ministers and senior central government officials, both inside and outside the Parliament. Along with raising the needs of their respective constituencies, he urged them to strongly represent Kerala's overall interests and help secure support for the state's development.

The Chief Minister said Kerala is currently at an important turning point due to major demographic changes. He noted that the number of young people in the state is declining while the elderly population is increasing, mainly because of the state's high life expectancy. He said Kerala has become the first state in India to establish a separate department for senior citizens to address these changing demographics and their impact on the economy and development planning. The department is not just a welfare initiative but also aims to encourage senior citizens to actively participate in the state's development instead of remaining confined to their homes.

The Chief Minister also outlined some of the state's major development goals. He said the government plans to make Kerala a "port city state" by fully utilising its maritime strengths, which include two international ports, one container terminal, 17 mini ports, and a 600-kilometre coastline. He further said the government has prepared around 27 aviation projects by integrating Kerala's four international airports and is looking to attract private investment to implement these projects.